Coffee Roasters Collective, a Brisbane-based coffee roastery founded in 1999, has been contributing to the coffee culture explosion across Australia for the last two decades.

Through a new partnership with SU QLD, the group is now looking to make a positive difference in the lives of young people in communities across Queensland. 

Click here to learn more about this exciting new partnership

Founder, Rob Mergard, has a heart for the next generation, which is why he’s helping in the best way he knows how – combining his passion for helping those in need with his passion for sharing great coffee.

“When I look at the work of SU, which I’ve seen firsthand through my daughter’s involvement with local chappies, it’s something I wanted to get behind,” says Rob.

And Rob’s doing just that. It took four years for this dream to become a reality, but for every 1kg bag of coffee, which is being sold under the Dancing Bean label, 100% of retail margins will go straight to SU QLD.

“The coffee beans will be available to purchase through our retail networks, and we can ship them Australia wide. The label on the bag of coffee will let everyone know that each bag is going towards a good cause,” says Rob.

Every purchase supports the work of SU QLD.

Due to their expertise and dedication to quality products, Coffee Roasters Collective are the perfect partner for this initiative.

“We relocated to Ipswich about 5 years ago, and work out of a heritage building which has been modernised – it’s any coffee roasters dream,” says Rob.

“Our company started 21 years ago under the Dancing Bean brand, and we have been roasting coffee for about 16 years. Our company actually put the first legal coffee cart in Brisbane. We started our customer base by opening coffee carts and small espresso bars, and worked our way up to where we are.”

SU QLD Fundraising Manager, Jon Thorne, shares a bit behind this exciting new initiative.

“It has been such a blessing to work with Rob on this. He’s got a great heart for our young people and he makes great coffee. We’re really excited to see the impact that this partnership can have on the ground, where the needs are still very real right across Queensland,” says Jon.

“Coffee is everywhere nowadays, and partnering with Rob means something we do every day now has a bit more purpose by bringing hope to more children and young people.”

Click here to purchase your premium quality coffee beans, while making a donation to the work of Scripture Union Queensland!

Rob Mergard is the cafe pioneer behind the Coffee Roasters Collective. Rob started life as an engineer – and it was his problem solving mindset and technical flair that saw him redesign coffee roasting in Queensland. Since his humble beginnings in a small cafe set-up, Rob has surrounded himself with coffee experts, master roasters, machinery gurus, specialist baristas and marketing icons who have all helped create, shape and enhance the individual products, services and brands that the Coffee Roasters Collective now takes to market.

Chaplaincy fundraisers are as diverse as the regions our chappies serve in. For the Local Chaplaincy Committee in Clermont, in Central Queensland, they’ve taken fundraising to a whole new level of classiness – high tea style.

More than just tea, the 120 women who attended the event late last year were treated to a three-course spread which included finger sandwiches, delicate desserts, fruit galore and some delicious cheese platters.

But beyond the pretty window dressing of this elegant affair, these 120 big-hearted guests gathered together for a much greater cause than raising one’s pinky-finger while drinking from a cup – they were there to raise awareness and funds to promote positive mental health in the local primary and high schools.

In a revamped hall, with elongated tables decorated with teacups, saucers and roses, the women enjoyed a fashion parade showcasing clothes from local stores, and listened to an inspirational guest speaker talk about normalising vulnerable conversations in every-day life.

Helen Farrell has been a school chaplain for seven years, and says she has watched the conversation around mental health in Clermont shift in recent years.

“Our women especially, are concerned about mental health because we have the mines close by and their husbands are away working while the drought is still continuing. Being out in the bush also means you have to drive four hours to the closest facility, which is difficult,” says Chappy Helen.

“I think society is beginning to understand that children are affected by trauma and recognising that it’s really important. If you ask any chaplain, they’ll say mental health and resilience in kids are two of the biggest issues, because of the way our society is with fragmented families and hardship.”

Thanks to the generosity of the attendees, the Clermont Local Chaplaincy Committee (LCC) were able to raise $3,502.64, which will be used to run positive mental health programs.

LCC Chair Bec Allen-Ankins, together with the committee, worked tirelessly to ensure that the fundraiser was a success, and is excited to see their town embrace mental health programs through the funding.

“Mental health is a massive issue in this area, and I too have a personal connection with these struggles. Looking at our schools, mental health structured programs is what we’re lacking – the kind where kids are guided through regular learning and discussion sessions as a group, and are supported with books and resources to aid learning and implementation,” says Bec.

“I’m confident these programs will make a big difference in our schools, and that’s all thanks to the money raised from our generous women and local businesses.”

It’s true that events like this don’t happen without careful planning, and Bec was kind enough to share some of her pearls of wisdom.

Bec’s Top Five Tips to running a Successful Event:

1. Connection, connection, connection – remember events are all about people! The effort you put into building relationships with both your sponsors and your community will make a big difference to how the event goes.
2. Plan as far in advance as you can – Get the big details confirmed early (dates, venues etc.) and it will save you from many unnecessary stressful moments down the track.
3. Get small jobs done as early as you can – Remember that small things add up and take up more time than you’d expect.
4. Delegate to the right people for the job – People with the right skills will do it twice as fast, and probably to a better standard, so it’s important to know everyone’s strengths and allow them to work in that area.
5. Don’t be afraid to create awareness – I know social media can seem daunting, but get creative and run competitions to get people talking about your event. You can afford to give away a few free tickets if it means you have 100 people liking and sharing your event.

“Families were doing it tough. Stores were facing food shortages because people were hoarding. There were limits on products, and everyday items were in high demand. There was a real need, and we were able to do something about it.”

…

When chappies Ross and Mark heard about the food shortages going on in their communities at Emerald and Anakie, they wanted to help. 

“People were travelling an hour or more to get into town, just to find that they couldn’t get what they needed because stock was so low,” says Chappy Mark. 

To help ease the burden, Chappy Mark and a teacher came up with the idea of bridging the gap for those living out on the Gemfields, by hand-delivering items from town. Chappy Ross was only too keen to join in. 

“We approached the stores in town with $500 and some vouchers from local businesses. We asked if they’d remove the limits so we could take product out to the gem fields and they agreed,” Chappy Ross says.

The local Woolies and IGA chipped in with cartons of apples, oranges, bananas and pears, while Coles stepped up by donating bread and some of the local ladies helped out with grocery bags. 

Click here to see a video of the supplies!

“We took a ute – which was piled three crates high with a variety of groceries – out to the gem fields every Wednesday for four weeks. It was incredible,” says Chappy Ross.

“Out in the fields, people were so grateful. There are lonely people out there and we were given the opportunity to give back on multiple levels. Mark and I would pray together in the car on the way up, because we knew it was going to be heavy.”

In smaller communities, Chappy Ross explains that the school is often central to the community, and this means a school chaplain is often considered the chaplain for the community.

“I did some house calls with the principal – and the families were really excited to see us. Showing up with a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk was a simple way to show these families that you’re there for them.”

“I found that a lot of the families had been having the same conversation over and over again, so these visits were a way to share new perspectives.”

“I’ve been a chappy for the last thirteen years, and I’ve watched the community grow over the years. Someone once said to me, “You can count the number of seeds in an orange, but you can’t count the oranges in one seed.” I think that analogy relates to what we do as chaplains. You never know what one kind word can do for somebody – you never know how big that tree might grow.”

It’s because of you that school chaplains can bring hope and encouragement to their communities.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of others – visit suqld.org.au/donate for more ways to show your support.

Every day school chaplains walk into environments full of young people dealing with serious and wide-ranging issues. From anxiety to domestic violence, mental health and even suicide, Chappy Deb has been instrumental in supporting her school’s young people and their families. 

Through your big-hearted support, you too are meeting the needs of our children and young people in crisis.

“We have had 5-6 suicides in our community over the last few months – which has had flow-on effects to our community here at school. There’s a lot of training that we rely on as chaplains to help support in these situations, but equally as important is showing our young people that you actually care,” says Chappy Deb.

You make it possible for our chaplains to show up every day dedicated and determined to bring hope and a brighter future to our young people. Thank you.

“We use health and social care resources, we check in on students and encourage them to keep learning. Most important of all we take notice. That’s been important in COVID-19 – I’ve learnt so much about the power of taking notice,” says Chappy Deb.

“Our training helps us understand how to mentally take note of our conversations, and then we can refer to external services when needed. Chaplains also offer something unique to school communities through spiritual support, which is incredibly important for well being.”

“There was this one time at school, where I was talking with a group of students about what I do, and this quite angry girl spoke up and she said, “Miss, you pick up our hearts.” I thought that was pretty beautiful.”

Throughout this COVID-19 season, Chappy Deb has also been doing the usual rounds, checking in with students, staff and parents.

“Because of the changes with COVID-19, we can’t run our usual food programs. We usually run 7 food programs a week – breakfast 4 days, and lunch 3 days,” says Chappy Deb.

“We recently got donations back from Foodbank and have been able to provide milk, bananas, weetbix and juice. I’ve been making up sandwiches and wrapping them for hungry kids – it’s not a lot, but it’s about working with what’s already in the school.”

“Even though it’s hard, it’s exciting as well. I jump out of bed in the morning – always eager to see what God is going to do next.”

Chaplains may not outwardly wear capes, but they are certainly heroes in our communities. They never give up and they never stop sharing hope and love to those who need it the most.

Teacher Brendan is grateful for friends like you who are making a difference in schools through your support for school chaplaincy – particularly in times of stress and change.

“I believe it is vitally important that we have chaplains in our school. Both staff and students benefit greatly from having a person who is in a pastoral and well being role,” says Brendan.

“Chappy Deb is a caring and supportive person in the school, often doing unnoticed acts of kindness to support our staff and students. She provides non-judgmental support and from a teacher’s perspective, I feel like I can chat to Chappy Deb about matters of faith and other personal issues.”

It’s because of you that Chappies like Deb can bring encouragement and support to their communities. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of others – visit suqld.org.au/donate for more ways to show your support.

In this new season, children and young people across the state desperately need the social, emotional and spiritual support of a trusted and trained adult. To help keep school chaplaincy going, head to suqld.org.au/bringhope

Chappy Paula is passionate about chaplaincy. She’s been in the job for nearly 13 years, and says each day is a new opportunity to show love and hope.

“My background is in teaching, but my passion was always being a support person and a helper – that’s what I felt was very important and rewarding,” says Chappy Paula.

“Every child needs a supportive, safe person and environment, otherwise mental health and anxieties can really overwhelm them. I’ve seen children suffer if they haven’t got nurturing care. I like that chaplaincy is about walking alongside the kids – it’s very personable.”

“Because I’ve been in the community for so long, I’ve built rapport with the families. Many will openly share what’s been going on in their lives, and I’m able to help them as much as I can. Support looks different for everyone. One boy turned up post-COVID without a lunchbox, and I was able to feed him and find some food for him to take home. It’s often simple things that others don’t have the time to concentrate on.”

Over the past few months, Chappy Paula has been getting creative in how she can support families – particularly those who are doing it tough.

“Each of the three schools I work at gets support from FoodBank, local communities and churches, but at the beginning of May when I went in to pick up the food, they said Coles had sent in a truckload of donations to support families. I was overwhelmed!”, says Chappy Paula.

“They provided a trailer to get it all back to the school because it wouldn’t fit in my station wagon. We had about 240 cars pull in on the Friday morning when parents came to pick up their learning packs. The teaching staff and I were dressed up, and were able to wave to the kids (and some family dogs!) through the window.”

“We organised the car park into lane-ways (Year 1 pickup, Year 2 pickup etc.) and then at the end was all the food. Even if some families only took something little, like a loaf of bread, it was great to be able to give them something to take home with them. Anything is a bonus when you’re going through hard times.”

Year One teacher, Tania Collins, had a fantastic day manning the Chappy Food stall.

“Despite the overcast, chilly, windy weather, the atmosphere in the car park was full of positivity, pleasure and pride in being a Woongarra staff member,” says Tania.

“Chappy Paula is a great support to our ‘Woonie’ families and provides a very caring and nurturing role to all. She is never too busy to be a ‘safe person’ and provide a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on and offer solutions both practical and spiritual.”

Despite the craziness of the past few months, Chappy Paula is grateful for the unity that has formed in the school. 

“It’s been a rough few months, but I’ve seen a lot of good come out of the season. I think we’ve grown as a school community and have realised we’re part of a bigger team.”

“We have a really effective support team at our school – I work closely with the guidance officer to support families in our communities, and we have great leadership from our Principal. It’s lovely to see how we can all work together to assist and care for our families.”

It’s because of you that Chappies like Paula can bring encouragement and support to their communities. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of others – visit suqld.org.au/donate for more ways to show your support.

In times of uncertainty and fear, hope is the antidote – and your chaplains are there to share that message with children and their families. Visit suqld.org.au/bringhope to find out how you can help keep this vital mission going!

A few weeks ago, Chappy Di was able to support 9 local families by hand-delivering fruit baskets to their doorstep.

“The fruit baskets were a way to keep up with vulnerable families without being invasive – and it was also a great opportunity to check in on the kids. It was beautiful to see how excited these families were when they saw us arrive,” says Chappy Di.

“I’m so glad to have partnered with the well-being team at school to prepare these hampers. They were the ones who came up with the idea of filling them with fruit (bananas, apples, mandarins, pineapples, grapes and kiwi), because if the students were still at school, they would have received fruit as part of our Breakfast Club program.” 

For one special family who were struggling, Chappy Di partnered with a local charity, Hidden Treasure, to deliver a stroller and an extra food hamper.

“This beautiful mum never would have asked, but when we showed up with the stroller and the food, she was so thankful. She said “You’re gonna make me cry.” You could see the joy on her face when a need was filled – she knew it was a genuine gift, and that there were no strings attached.”

“The whole hamper-process really showed me that this season can be used for good. God opened the way with the well-being team at school, and it was definitely a community effort.”

Chappy Di has had a lifetime of experience working in insurance, human resources and more, but knew that God was guiding her towards a future in chaplaincy.

“I’ve worked in a variety of jobs and that’s given me a lot of experience and skills. By the time I’d completed my SU Training and was working in a school, I had a sensitivity for people built into me,” says Chappy Di.

“It’s funny, looking back, I can see that I was guided towards a chaplaincy role long before I became a chaplain. There were domestic violence cases in some of the factories I worked at, and I did training with migrant women. Those sorts of situations taught me how to be a really good listener.”

“As a chaplain, I’m an impartial voice and that’s why the kids will share with me. They know I’m listening to them, and listening is not judging.”

“This COVID-19 season has been an eye-opener. Visiting those families has given me a new perspective in my role of caring for families. It’s shown me that it’s important to take a moment to see what’s going on behind the scenes. There’s often a lot more going on than you realise.”

It’s because of you that Chappies like Di can bring encouragement and support to their communities. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of others – visit suqld.org.au/donate for more ways to show your support.

Three years ago Karl felt the call to school chaplaincy – and that call led him to the small town of Marmor, Queensland, where he and his family now live in a renovated old church.

In this remote community of roughly 150 people, Chappy Karl finds gardening is a great way to bring support (and fresh fruit and vegetables) right to the table of the residents.

“I do a lot of work in the community gardens. It’s great for the kids to get involved with it – they go home and ask their parents to plant their own family garden!” says Chappy Karl.

“We grow watermelons, rockmelons, zucchinis, cucumbers, pumpkins – everything. We also do community cooking with the produce. I know that there have been some rough times in the past, and living so far out, people can’t always get into town for food. These gardens have been a real boost for the community.”

Throughout the COVID19 season, Chappy Karl has been doing everything he can to support students, parents and staff across his two schools.

“I’ve been fitting in where I”m needed. The last few years, I’ve been able to build a good rapport in the community – now it’s about being there for everyone,” says Chappy Karl.

“The role of a chaplain is to be there. It’s about building relationships and providing support and drawing on your strengths. I love that as a chaplain, you can be yourself. You’re there to spend time with the kids and to support their well-being.”

It’s because of you that Chappies like Karl can bring encouragement and support to their communities. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of others – visit suqld.org.au/donate for more ways to show your support.

When Jack was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes three weeks before his 9th birthday, it was a huge shock for his family.

The condition meant his mum Sarah had to administer seven insulin injections a day. At times he wouldn’t eat – just to avoid having another needle.

Just as Jack and his family were coming to terms with their ‘new normal’, the death of a much-loved family member and being temporarily moved out of their rental home added further stress to what was already a challenging and stressful time.

One month later Covid-19 struck…

It’s at times like these that chaplains stand in the gap for children and families in need. Your generosity keeps them there – thank you!

Behind the scenes, Chappy Kylie was there. The relationship she’d built with Jack and his family, over the years, allowed her to step in and help when it was most needed.

“I first met Chappy Kylie many years ago in the middle of a rough time of my life,” Sarah recalls.

“Later on, in the first couple of months after Jack’s diagnosis I got very little sleep because I was so worried his insulin levels would drop low during the night, which they did a few times. I wasn’t home much and juggling the four kids and my night shifts was a lot.

“When Kylie delivered the hamper it broke us. It couldn’t have come at a better time.”

As Covid-19 came on and the family moved into another rough patch, Chappy Kylie dropped off another hamper and organised some frozen meals.

“They’re practical – it had cereal, pasta, just enough to get us through for a couple of days. The hampers and meals have saved me in some really difficult times over this season,” Sarah says.

“It just gives you support. It makes you feel not alone, you feel supported, you feel valued as a person. I don’t even know the words. We’re grateful.”

Head of Special Ed at Bald Hills State School, Kate Marley, says Chappy Kylie makes a huge difference for families like Jack’s.

“If Jack’s family didn’t have Chappy Kylie, there wouldn’t be hampers, there wouldn’t be food vouchers, and there wouldn’t be that phone call to check in,” Kate recalls.

“She made sure they got the support they needed.”

Kate says the support goes far beyond one family, and that Chappy Kylie shapes the way the school provides support to families in need.

“Kylie’s invaluable. She’s open and warm but hugely practical as well – she does the job of like six people,” Kate says.

“With Covid-19, people don’t know what to do – if they should come to school or not. Teachers are feeling vulnerable and they don’t know if what was applicable yesterday still stands in the present.

“In that space, Kylie has been that constant – just there walking beside them. Having someone in the school who is so present, calm and kind changes everything.

“She would feel the stress, but every single day she walks in with a big smile, willing to serve without complaining. I couldn’t imagine school without Chappy Kylie.”

Kylie loves the hamper program not only for the smiles when she drops one off, but also the impact it has on the kids in the school – who donate the goods for the hampers.

“I love that the hampers come from the school community,” Kylie says.

“It’s kids recognizing that they are a part of being able to help. I love getting kids involved in something greater than themselves – teaching them that they can be a part of spreading love and kindness.”

For Jack’s mum Sarah, she can’t speak highly enough about her chappy.

“It’s not just children she’s looking out for, it’s the mums, it’s the dads, it’s the foster families – it’s whoever the guardians are for those kids at school. She makes you feel a part of the community. It gives the school heart,” Sarah says.

“It means everything to me to know my kids are safe and that they have someone looking out for them.”

It’s because of you that Chappies like Kylie can bring encouragement and support to their communities. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of others – visit suqld.org.au/donate for more ways to show your support.

As we celebrate 30 years of school chaplaincy in 2020, we wanted to honour some of our incredible chappies who have defined what it means to be there for the long-haul in supporting the next generation.

For almost as long as we’ve had chaplaincy in Queensland schools, students, staff and families at Burnside State High have been blessed by Chappy Matt Brady.

He is SU QLD’s longest-serving chaplain and has been supporting the Sunshine Coast school community of Burnside High for 25 years.

Matt says he’s inspired by the resilience of the kids he sees at school every day.

“When you hear their stories, see the pain in their eyes and the heartbrokenness on their face – but they keep going – that’s what inspires me,” Matt says.

“I really think the kids of this generation have got it really tough, and I felt a calling to chaplaincy to see if I could help alleviate some of that; to show kids that life doesn’t have to go in one direction and they can make positive choices for themselves.

“Media, advertising and society are telling kids ‘who they are’ – and how they need to act. I think kids need someone to bat for them and help them take hold of who they are for themselves.”

When asked about some of his strongest memories from his time as a chappy, Matt says one particular student stood out.

“I met Aleaha when she was in Grade 9, she came and talked to me because she’d had a little to do with the chaplain at a previous school,” Matt recalls.

“She had a very hard life – through some circumstances and being removed from her home, she became suicidal and was cutting herself.

“One day the principal rang me and said Aleaha was out on the road in front of the school; she was fighting off staff trying to throw herself under a bus.

“I can’t remember what I said that day over the phone, but she says that whatever I said made a difference and stopped her at that moment from wanting to kill herself.

“Following that incident we started catching up more regularly and I connected her with professional support services outside the school. She’s now studying to become a teacher.”

Matt says having a chaplain in the school is key, so that kids have someone they can talk to about anything that’s on their mind.

“It’s a unique position. Kids don’t see us as part of the system – so they’re more comfortable approaching us and coming to talk to us,” Matt says.

“We’re the only people in school whose sole job is listening to kids, and that’s really important.”

There’s currently multiple chaplaincy positions in schools right across Queensland. If you love working with children and young people, and are feeling called to a career where you can make a positive difference to the next generation visit suqld.org.au/morehands!

“If you are feeling called and compelled to follow chaplaincy – don’t hesitate,” Matt says.

If you’re interested and feel called to chaplaincy – there are various roles open right across Queensland. To find out more about pursuing a career in chaplaincy, visit www.suqld.org.au/morehands

As we celebrate 30 years of school chaplaincy in 2020, we wanted to highlight some of our chappies who have worked for many years to support the next generation.

Andrea Lee has is the school chaplain at Palarra State School and Yeronga State High School. She’s been a chappy for 7 years.

“I always knew I wanted to work with young people, but I had no idea at what capacity,” Andrea recalls.

“I started as a teacher, but found I wasn’t as interested in teaching as I was in why students were behaving in a certain way. I was more interested in what’s going on in their life and how I might be able to help them.

“There are so many kids who need support. I see a lot of primary kids who go through parental separation – and are asking really tough questions like ‘why am I going back and forth from house to house?’ or ‘is this my fault?’.

“I just listen and try to help them understand what’s going on a bit better. I don’t always know everything that’s going on at home, but I myself came from a broken family, so I guess in that sense I can relate to them and their experience.”

Being able to make a difference both emotionally and practically – that’s one of the things Andrea loves most about being a chappy.

“One point I really felt like I was making a difference was with a young boy I supported in primary school,” Andrea recalls.

“I noticed that when he came to school each day his shirts weren’t being cleaned, so I asked him ‘do you want to learn how to wash your shirt?’ – he said he’d like to do that. He told me he didn’t know how to use a washing machine and his mum and dad wouldn’t show him how.

“From that point, one day a week first thing in the morning I’d go collect this student and show him how to handwash his shirt so he could actually do that and wash his other clothes at home.

“That was a beautiful thing because I was able to engage with him, show him someone cared for him and valued him, and also teach him a valuable life skill.”

Andrea says chaplaincy is one of the greatest jobs if you love to support young people.

“If you really have a passion to support young people through hardships, chaplaincy is one of the greatest ways to do it,” Andrea says.

“If you have the drive and love to help kids and teenagers – do chaplaincy.”

If you’re interested and feel called to chaplaincy – there are various roles open right across Queensland. To find out more about pursuing a career in chaplaincy, visit www.suqld.org.au/morehands